The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-08-04
INTELLECTUAL POWER.
Slow Mental Development as Seen In 90
Called "DuiI Boys"

Slow Mental Development as Seen In So
Called "DuiI Boys"
No fact in the operation of mental
phenomena is more apparent to the in
telligent observer than the slow devek
opmA-rt of intellectual power. This is
especially noticed in that unfortunate
class popularity called dull boys" We
| ind them at home, in the school-room
and in the shop; and they are often the
butt of ridicule among their more bril-
liant associates, and not unfrequently
teachers lose their patience, and call
these uRlucAy fellows ounces" or
stupid blockheads. Letus be patient
with such subjects. for the condition
arises from no defect in the mental or
physical organization, but is the result
OF curious condition of development;
and. if we will only wait long enough,
we shall find results that are satisfying
II not surprising. Now, we
say that, unless II boy is either obsti
nately lazy or actually deficient in
mental capacity. his dullnesS should be
dealt with in hopeful patience. Because
ne does not easily take in tie technicali-
ties of certain studies, it does not follow
that he is wholly deficient. He may
be bright in comprehending num-
bers, but dull as lead in grammar
or physics; and still his general power
for comprehension may be rs reliable
u h.Rt of tIa
school. This fact of slow development
must never be lost sight of in our gen
eral estimate of probable results. The
dull boy in school often becomes the
level-headed business man and the re-
liable citizen. He may never be bril-
liant, but he may possess the solid ele-
ments in his mental organization that
will enable him to wisely conserve the
folks around him. We can all recall
many such instances among our school
mates and acquaintance. They were
slow, but they kept pushing on; and.
amid the derisiOn of their more brilliant
early associates, they Overcame OBJ
stacle after obstacle, until they reached
honorable and successful positions in
the community. 1t is of vital
Importance that those who have the
care of the young should early discover
the difference between absolute de-
ficiency and slowness of perception.
Many poor fellow is mortified and
discouraged because of the odds be-
tween him and his vOlu1le competitor.
1t is happy thing when the plodding
and large headed educator, who can
discern the mental capabilities Ofhis dull
pupil, and understand how to assist in
their development. Children who come
before the public in speech and song
before they have reached their teens.
and who astonish crowds by their
bright sayings and brilliant ways. sell
dom mature into strong and we'll
balanced characters. They flash and
shine for awhile, and are then lost
sight of before they reach maturity.
The boy whose hand is always up to
answer every question that his dull
neighbor is pondering often bears off
the palm for scholarship; he gets all the
medals. and pockets all the rewards
of merits" He can memorize and re-
cite scores of standard selections, and
is always in the front in every display
of youthful smartness and precOcity.
But it is an injury to such boys when
they are pushed to their maximum, and
made to serve every occasion with the
novelty of their brilliant gifts. Such
subjects mature too quickly, and their
strength often fails at the supreme mo-
ment of manly development. Any sys-
tenn, then, is defective which assumes
that all boys must be subjected to the
same kind of mental discipline. without
reference to the susceptibilities OF ncrY-
Gus organization, or the wide diver
gences of the power of Imagination
Popular Science NeWS.